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Updating all company pc's to XP

I am just wondering is there an easy way to update all our company's windows 2000 pc's to Windows xp. Is there a program I could use or executable I could run that would do it as opposed to me having to manually go to each pc. We have 80-odd w2k pro machines and we are moving to Windows server 2003 controlled domain.

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Hmmm... Setting up a RIS server may be the easiest way to get the updates out if you wipe and replace. Are you looking to wipe the current load and replace or upgrade the W2K machines? If you want to upgrade it, how about creating a silent install script and launching the 32 bit exe file in a login script of some kind? I have never done it other than wipe and replace, so just a few ideas...

We've always done a wipe-and-replace too, and I would recommend it highly. Upgrading can be difficult and you often end up bringing along a multitude of problems you didn't anticipate.

First, if you haven't already done so, you need to make sure that all of the PCs are capable of being upgraded to XP hardware-wise. If new drivers are needed for video, NICs, etc., be sure you have all of that available to you.

If you have a lot of identical hardware, another way to do it, other than RIS as already suggested, would be to use Symantec Ghost. Even if at least the basic subsystems, like hard drives and controllers, NICs, etc., are the same, you can effectively use Ghost. If you haven't ever used it before, look it up on the Symantec web site. It's essentially a tool that allows you to create one "prototype" machine and then copy that install and dump it on all of the other identical machines.

This could turn into a nightmare if all the machines are not identical, which in my experience will never happen. Even a executable script or batch file would really create more problems that would have to be sorted out on each machine. A wipe and reload has been the most reliable way to do these type of installs. Those upgrades would only be effective on maybe half the units and maybe only two thirds using scripts. Either way the hassles would take up more time than just reloading. I've tried both and prefer reloads, although with so many different hardware profiles, the reloads will be tough too, just trying to get any additional drivers to play nice and remain compatible will drive you up the wall. There is no easy way, this is not Kansas anymore.

MS has an unattended install scrip[t available for new installs but you would need a Original Windows Install CD to work from not a slipstreamed image that will only be good for one line of machines.

I personally wouldn't recommend a Upgrade as they bring along a host of problems with them that you'll spend forever sorting out and even then most likely will wipe the HDD and perform a Clean Install to get the thing working correctly.

If you really want to push out a Upgrade from Y2K to XP you can do this from the Main Server and push out the Upgrade to every workstation though I wouldn't be holding my breath in expectoration of everything working properly.

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